Dubai airport passenger numbers rise by 9%

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AIRPORT GROWTH: Passenger numbers at Dubai airport swelled by nine percent during 2008. (Getty Images)

Dubai International Airport has announced steady growth in passenger and cargo traffic in 2008.

The airport registered a year-on-year increase of 9.01 percent in passenger traffic and 9.38 percent in freight, according to latest figures.

In total, the airport handled more than 37 million passengers and 1,824,991 tonnes of cargo last year and saw the opening of Terminal 3.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and chairman of Dubai Airports, said the growth was impressive, especially considering the global economic downturn and the record high price of oil during the summer of 2008.

Commenting on the restructuring of Dubai Airports, he added: "It is evident now, in our growth and the world-acknowledged success of Terminal 3's launch that the restructuring was done right.

"Dubai International's growth in 2008 is a clear sign of the UAE's sturdy economy and Dubai's significance, not only to local and regional growth but to travel, tourism and business globally.

"The momentum of this growth will have a positive influence on ongoing situations as well as the overall projected growth for Dubai Airports for 2009."

In 2008, August was the busiest month for the airport in terms of passenger traffic with 3.36 million passengers, while February recorded the highest growth rate at 18.83 percent.

An average of three million passengers passed through Dubai International in 2008, with a daily average of 100,000 passengers.

September was the busiest month for the Cargo Village last year with 163,836 tonnes of cargo, up 12.70 percent over the corresponding month in 2007.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Conflicting Messages
Posted by Ali, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 29 March 2009 at 09:35 UAE time


Hank has a serious problem understanding some basic facts. There is no conflict in the two stories AB has published. Since 2002 Dubai has been sustaining an average growth of over 15 per cent, which has finally come down to a single digit figure in 2008. That's almost a halving of traffic growth. He should read more to find out where Middle East aviation stands in terms of growth today. That will give you an idea. Period.

conflicting messages
Posted by hank on Monday 26 January 2009 at 16:28 UAE time

How can Arabian Business.com publish two stories on the same day with one mentioning people are traveling less (and going to reduce their travels ), then go ahead and say '9% rise in passengers flying year on year'? Who cares what happened year on year? Today, and tomorrow, travelling will go down. period.

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